Practical Frameworks for Change

Transcription

1 Practical Frameworks for Change & EIGHT MEMBER SHELTERS 2 nd World Conference of Women s Shelters Connect, Learn, Share Washington, DC February 27 March 1,

2 The Alberta Council of Women s Shelters Represents 43 emergency and second stage* sheltering agencies for women and their children fleeing violence and abuse Provides professional development and training Increases public awareness of issues related to family violence Undertakes action based research Hosted the 1st World Conference of Women s Shelters in 2008 *Second stage shelters (secure apartments for stays of 6 months or more) Emergency shelters (temporary accommodation of 21 days or so).. 2

3 Practical Frameworks for Change Project Background Alberta Women s Shelters develop collective data base collaborative action based research projects Keeping Women Alive Assessing the Danger Making a Difference: Women s Shelters In Alberta A 10 Year Trend Analysis September st World Conference of Women s Shelters: Edmonton, Alberta August 2008 December 2010 Practical Frameworks for Change designed, implemented and evaluated 3

4 Alberta s Women s Shelters: 8 shelters participated Grande Prairie: Odyssey House Cold Lake: Dr. Margaret Savage Crisis Center. St. Paul: Columbus House of Hope Edmonton: Lurana Shelter Society Red Deer: Central Alberta Emergency Shelter Calgary: YWCA Sheriff King Home Strathmore: Community Crisis Society Lethbridge: YWCA Harbour House 4

5 Practical Frameworks for Change Project Identify promising practices in Safety, Health, and Cultural Competence Choose specific practices/processes to implement and evaluate Support high quality service delivery to better meet the needs of women and children accessing Alberta shelters Contribute to promising practice knowledge base 5

6 Promising Practices Identified Safety/Health/Culture: Domestic Violence Assessment Survivor Assessment (DVSA) Safety: Danger Assessment (DA); Legal Intervention Health: Trauma intervention Culture: Development of agency policy 6

7 Two Assessment Tools Implemented 1. Domestic Violence Survivor Assessment (DVSA) 2. Danger Assessment (DA) 7

8 What is the DVSA? Developed in 1995 by Dr. J. Dienemann in consultation with Dr. J. Campbell Based on the Prochaska s Transtheoretical Model of Change Provides a framework to better understand individual women accessing shelter and to guide interventions to support their unique needs. 5 stages of change: Pre contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action and Maintenance Focuses on 4 primary issues: Safety, Culture, Health and Self Strengths 8

9 What is the Danger Assessment Tool? Developed in 1985 by Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell Developed with consultation and content validity support from abused women, shelter workers, law enforcement officials and other experts Helps increase women s ability to take care of themselves Allows women to come to their own conclusions regarding safety Interactive: uses a calendar that assists in recall Instrument is a series of 19 weighted questions designed to measure risk of femicide in an abusive intimate partner relationship (20 th question is used to assess suicidal ideation) 9

10 Partnership with Legal Aid Alberta Struck to improve access of women and children in shelters to legal advice. Law Line Project pilot September 2009 Calls from participating shelters directed to LAA intake worker Dedicated lawyer for each participating shelter Legal Aid Training 10

11 Project Results: Oct 1, 2009 Aug 31, 2010 Women Total of 2177 admissions 1,111 in North & 1,066 in South 1890 unique women 287 women admitted more than once (about 4%) Children Total of 1833 admissions Total Overall 4010 admissions in 8 shelters over the course of a 9 month period 11

12 Project Results: Type of Admission Abused man with or without children, 9 Unknown, 36 Other woman meeting shelter mandate, 349 Abused woman, 913 Abused woman with children,

13 Project Results: Ethno Cultural Background & Shelter Location 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% North Central and South 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0%.0% Aboriginal Caucasian Other 13

14 Project Results: Employment and Need for Financial Support Employed, 13% Other, 8% Not a problem, does not need assistance 9% Substantial problem, needs assistance 27% Somewhat of a problem, does not need assistance 14% Unemployed, 79% Somewhat of a problem, needs assistance 50% 14

15 Project Results: Length of Stay in the Shelter Unknown 33 days or more 22 to 32 days 11 to 21 days 5 to 10 days 4 days or fewer 0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0% 15

16 Project Results: Legal Needs Family Law Issues - Separation Protection Orders - EPO Other - Accessing Personal Belongings Protection Orders - Restraining Order Other - Maintenance Enforcement Other - Child Financial Support Other - Employment Family Law Issues - Parenting Orders Other - Housing.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0% 40.0% 16

17 Legal Intervention: Project Recommendations Partnership with Legal Aid Alberta and the work on the Law Line should continue. Expand the service to other shelters in Alberta Make the service available to other shelter related programsoutreach Implement additional training both for LAA and shelter staff (e.g. ACWS Outcomes Conference, April 2011) 17

18 Project Results: Danger Assessment Score Almost half of the women in the shelters were in extreme danger of femicide Variable Danger 11% Extreme Danger 49% Increased Danger 23% Severe Danger 17% Women with the higher DA scores were more likely to: Have addictions (34%) Self identify as Aboriginal (36%) Receive services in the North (40%) 18

19 Project Results: DA Calendar Spiritual Sexual Financial Emotional Use of Weapon Threat to use Weapon Beating up Punching, Kicking Slapping, Pushing

20 DA Calendar Results: Collective Emerging Trends Women with addictions more likely to experience some form of physical & emotional abuse Women with health issues more likely to experience some form of physical abuse Women with longer shelter stays more likely to experience physical abuse Women who are evicted/left for other reasons likely to experience physical/sexual abuse 20

21 Columbus House of Hope: Results DA Implementation The DA is seen as a healing tool An enhanced trusting relationship is built Opportunity for women to tell their stories Women may stay longer in shelter due to increased awareness Women may begin their healing process A comprehensive safety plan is developed 21

22 Implementing the DA: Project Recommendations Provide clear implementation protocols Provide support/training on trauma and grounding techniques Provide feedback and support to ensure staff validation Provide support/training to increase knowledge re: purpose, scope and validity of tool. 22

23 Project Results: Total DVSA Score Reasons for Discharge 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0%.0% 32 or less 33 to or more Goals met Left early Evicted Other Overall DVSA Score 23

24 Project Results: DVSA Scores Health and Trauma 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% Preparation Action 20.0% 10.0%.0% Culture Health Safety Self 24

25 DVSA: Advocate`s Experience DVSA supports development of knowledge and understanding of women we serve Assisted advocate`s to step back and take a look at a woman s situation and readiness for change Supported more realistic collaborative goal setting with women 25

26 Implementing the DVSA: Project Recommendations Provide clear implementation protocols Provide support/training to increase knowledge re: purpose and scope of tool and usefulness as a counselling tool Provide feedback and support to ensure staff validation 26

27 Project Results: Proportion of Staff Agree Responses Related to the Overall Project Impact As a result of the PFC project the women and children accessing our shelter receive services that better reflect their needs (n=34) As a result of the PFC project I can better assist women and children in my shelter (n=36) As a result of the PFC project I learned new information and skills that I have integrated in my work (n=32) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 27

28 Overall Project Results: Women report high satisfaction with their relationships with shelter staff, their increased safety, and knowledge of resources Positive impact on staff Improved quality of shelter service delivery Shelter increased knowledge and competence re data informing practice 28

29 Sincere Thanks to our Funders: 29

30 Contact Us: Carolyn Goard Ian Wheeliker Noreen Cotton Practical Frameworks for Change Supporting Women and Children in Alberta Emergency Shelters Practical Frameworks for Change High Level Results and Process Summary & ProcessSummary.pdf 30